Clyde Visitors’ Friendly Disappointment

Cardiff City’s three match pre-season tour of Scotland, which includes a visit to Broadwood to play Clyde on Friday 26 July, was today cut to just two games when St. Mirren called off one of the Bluebirds’ matches.

Earlier today St. Mirren released the following statement: “After due consideration and consultation with the local Police, the previously announced home friendlies against Cardiff City and Millwall have been cancelled. This leaves one remaining friendly against Norwich City on 13 July. The club is looking to replace the cancelled matches with other fixture(s) and will advise such arrangements in due course.”

For their part Millwall FC indicated that the violence which had erupted following Birmingham City’s Play-Off victory over Millwall at the New Den on 2 May appears to have been a key factor in the Paisley Saints’ decision: “St. Mirren have called off the pre-season friendly against The Lions scheduled for Saturday 27th July after consultation with their local police. Concerns were raised following the events of May 2nd, and the fact that Birmingham City and Cardiff City are in Scotland at the same time undoubtedly influenced the decision. St. Mirren were also scheduled to face the Welsh side and that game has been called-off as well.”

Clyde’s friendly against Cardiff is not affected by today’s events and the Welsh club are hoping to fix up another Scottish match but it is a matter of great regret that the confrontational behaviour of some fans and their close proximity in the Greater Glasgow area around 27 July has left St. Mirren with little choice but to follow police advice.

Just for the record Clyde’s pre-season programme is as follows:

Saturday 13th July – Oban Tournament (Oban)
Tuesday 16th July – Norwich City (Broadwood)
Monday 22nd July* – Livingston (Almondvale)
Friday 26th July – Cardiff City (Broadwood)

* Date to be confirmed.